Retransmitting communications in a mobile network using small cell clusters
AssigneeBlackBerry Limited
InventorsSophie Vrzic, Yongkang Jia
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Methods, apparatus and articles of manufacture to enable retransmitting of communications in a mobile network using small cell clusters are disclosed. Example methods disclosed herein for a macro node in a mobile network include configuring a cluster of small cell nodes in communication with the macro node to perform retransmission of downlink packets sent from the macro node to a first user equipment (UE) served by the macro node. Such example methods also include sending a first downlink packet from the macro node for receipt by the first UE. Such example methods further include receiving acknowledgment information for the first downlink packet from the cluster of small cell nodes.
Claims25
A method for a macro node in a mobile network, the method comprising:
- configuring a cluster of small cell nodes in communication with the macro node to perform retransmission of downlink packets sent from the macro node to a first user equipment (UE) served by the macro node;
- sending a first downlink packet from the macro node for receipt by the first UE;
- and
- receiving acknowledgment information for the first downlink packet from the cluster of small cell nodes.
A method as defined in 7, further comprising:
- determining a first channel quality metric characterizing channel quality between the first UE and a first one of the small cell nodes based on first channel quality information received from the first one of the small cell nodes;
- and
- determining whether to include the first one of the small cell nodes in the second cluster of small cell nodes based on comparing the first channel quality metric to a first threshold.
A method as defined in 7, further comprising configuring the first UE to send the uplink data packets, including the first uplink data packet, to the second cluster of small cell nodes.
A method as defined in 9, further comprising:
- determining a power control offset to be used by the first UE when sending the first uplink packet to the second cluster of small cell nodes;
- and
- sending the power control offset to the first UE.
11-21. (canceled)
A method for a small cell node in a mobile network, the method comprising:
- receiving information to configure the small cell node to perform retransmission of downlink packets sent from a macro node in the mobile network to a first user equipment (UE) served by the macro node;
- detecting a first downlink packet sent from the macro node for receipt by the first UE;
- and
- in response to receiving a negative acknowledgment for the first downlink packet from the first UE, retransmitting the first downlink packet to the first UE.
29-36. (canceled)
A method for a user equipment (UE) in a mobile network, the method comprising:
- receiving information from a macro node specifying a cluster of small cell nodes to perform retransmission of downlink packets sent from the macro node to the UE;
- in response to determining that a first downlink packet sent from the macro node for receipt by the UE has not been received, sending a negative acknowledgment for the first downlink packet to the cluster of small cell nodes;
- and
- receiving the first downlink packet from the cluster of small cell nodes.
42-47. (canceled)
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.